If your tween or teenager loves creating characters, inventing fantasy worlds, writing fan fiction, filling notebooks with stories, or dreaming about publishing a novel someday, a writing conference or summer writing camp designed specifically for young writers can be an incredible experience.

So, what are some of the best writing conferences for tweens and teens?

Some excellent options include...

1. StoryCon in Utah
   
2. StoryCon Summer Writing Camps
   
3. Young Writers Con in Texas
   
4. Get Inked Teen Writing Conference at Saint Mary's College
   
5. Sewanee Young Writers' Conference
   
6. Interlochen Arts Camp
   
7. Rice University's Creative Writing Camp
   
8. The University of Arizona's Young Arizona Writers' Workshop
   
9. Longfellow Young Writers Workshop at the University of Maine
   
10. Endicott College Young Writers Workshop in Massachusetts
    
11. Write the World Virtual Teen Writing Camp
    
12. The Writers Box Summer Camp in Utah
    
13. Check your local university. There are several university-based young writers programs around the country.
    (If you know of any other tween and teen writing conferences and camps, send me a message or leave a remark on this blogpost and I'll add it to the list.)

The important part is finding a program actually designed for young writers.

Here's a closer look at some worth considering.

1. StoryCon — Salt Lake City, Utah

Best for: Tweens and teens who want the full writing-conference experience

If your young writer wants to experience something that feels like a professional writers conference—but designed with kids and teenagers in mind—StoryCon belongs near the top of the list.

StoryCon is a national storytelling convention presented by the nonprofit Operation Literacy in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Unlike many writing conferences that are primarily designed for adults, StoryCon has dedicated programming for both tweens ages 8–12 and teens ages 13–18.

Teen writers can take classes specifically created for young storytellers, learn directly from published authors, attend main-stage programming, explore the exhibit hall, and participate in book signings.

The Tween Track creates a supervised environment where younger writers can learn from bestselling authors while developing greater enthusiasm for reading and writing.

StoryCon also offers writing contests for young writers. Current contests include categories specifically for teens as well as a Tween First Paragraph Writing Contest for ages 8–12.

StoryCon 2027 is scheduled for February 4–6, 2027 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.

2. StoryCon Summer Writing Camps — Utah

Best for: Young writers who want several days of hands-on writing instruction

StoryCon doesn't end when the annual convention is over.

The organization also runs summer camps specifically for tween and teen writers.

Its Teen Author Camps have been designed for students in grades 7–12 and focus on practical storytelling skills such as:

• Generating story ideas

• Creating strong hooks

• Character development

• Plotting

• Building tension

• Writing dialogue

• Creating authentic character reactions

• Description

• Revising and polishing prose

Students don't simply listen to presentations. They write, share, critique, practice, and interact with other young people who also love creating stories.

StoryCon has also offered a Tween Author Camp for younger writers and additional storytelling camps, including an RPG-focused Dungeon Camp for teens.

The 2026 Dungeon Camp, for example, was a three-day experience for ages 13–19 at Utah Valley University's Lehi Campus that combined writing, acting, storytelling, and tabletop role-playing games.

For a young writer who thinks sitting through lectures all summer sounds terrible, that's a pretty fun alternative.

3. Young Writers Con — Texas

Best for: Teens who want a true teen writing conference

Young Writers Con in the Houston area is specifically designed for students in grades 7–12.

That's an important distinction.

This isn't an adult conference where teenagers happen to be allowed through the doors. The event is built around teen writers.

The 2026 conference featured 14 writing workshops, 12 writing competitions, and numerous writing activities, along with a keynote from award-winning author Lynne Kelly.

Young writers get opportunities to learn new skills, experiment with writing, meet other teens who love stories, and connect with professional writers.

For teens who have never attended a writing conference before, an event like this can also provide something surprisingly important:

Proof that they're not the only kid who spends their free time making up imaginary people and ruining those people's lives for the sake of a good plot.

4. Get Inked Teen Writing Conference — Saint Mary's College, Indiana

Best for: Grades 7–12 looking for workshops with published authors

The Get Inked Teen Writing Conference at Saint Mary's College has been bringing young writers together with professional authors since 2013.

The conference is specifically designed for students in grades 7–12.

Participants attend hands-on writing workshops and small-group sessions, experiment with different styles and forms, share ideas, and connect with professional writers and other young storytellers.

Another big advantage is accessibility.

In 2026, Get Inked offered both an in-person conference and a virtual conference on Zoom.

That makes it worth watching even if traveling to Indiana isn't practical for your family.

5. Sewanee Young Writers' Conference — Tennessee

Best for: Serious high school writers ready for an immersive experience

For high school students who are already passionate about creative writing and want something more intensive, the Sewanee Young Writers' Conference is worth investigating.

Hosted by the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, this is a residential summer conference specifically for high school writers.

The 2026 summer conference ran for two weeks.

Students spend their time reading, writing, participating in workshops, developing their craft, and building friendships with other young writers.

This is less like attending a one-day event and more like temporarily joining a community where writing is a major part of everyday life.

For a teenager seriously considering studying creative writing in college—or simply wanting to take their writing to another level—that can be an incredible experience.

6. Interlochen Arts Camp Creative Writing Programs — Michigan

Best for: Serious middle school and high school creative writers

Interlochen Center for the Arts offers some of the most extensive youth creative-writing camp options I found.

And importantly, they aren't limited to older teenagers.

Interlochen offers separate creative-writing programming for grades 6–8 and grades 9–12.

Students can work with professional writers while studying areas such as fiction, poetry, and writing for the stage.

High school students have even more specialized options, including programs focused on:

• Creative writing

• Novel writing

• Spoken-word poetry

• Comics and graphic narratives

Their longer creative-writing programs provide a true arts-camp experience where students spend weeks surrounded by other creative young people.

It's a bigger commitment—and considerably more expensive than a local day camp—but for a young writer who is extremely serious about their craft, Interlochen is worth knowing about.

7. Rice University Creative Writing Camp — Houston, Texas

Best for: A wide range of ages, including middle and high school writers

Rice University's Creative Writing Camp is co-sponsored by Writers in the Schools and Rice University's School Literacy and Culture.

One of its biggest advantages is the age range.

Programs are available for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, with thematic courses specifically designed for middle and high school students.

Students participate in interactive writing exercises, work with professional writers and teachers, receive feedback, peer-review writing, and create a portfolio of their work.

Some courses dig into specific interests.

For example, Rice has offered a Magical Worlds course for sixth- and seventh-graders exploring worldbuilding through fantasy, science fiction, superhero fiction, and other imaginative genres.

That's exactly the kind of class that could turn a kid who says:

"Writing assignments are boring."

into a kid who says:

"Can I show you the map of the world I invented?"

8. Young Arizona Writers' Workshop — University of Arizona

Best for: High school students interested in literary creative writing

The Young Arizona Writers' Workshop is an intensive creative-writing program for students in grades 9–12 hosted by the University of Arizona.

Students explore:

• Fiction

• Poetry

• Creative nonfiction

• Personal narratives

They generate new work, revise existing pieces, study other writers, respond to writing prompts, and learn more about how creative work eventually reaches publication.

For teenagers interested in experiencing what a university creative-writing environment feels like, programs like this can also provide an early glimpse into college-level creative study.

9. Longfellow Young Writers' Camp — University of Maine at Farmington

Best for: High school writers who want a residential college experience

The Longfellow Young Writers' Camp brings high school writers together for a week at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Students work with award-winning authors while exploring multiple forms of storytelling, including:

• Fiction

• Poetry

• Screenwriting

• Memoir

Because it's residential, participants also get a taste of college life while spending time with other students who share their interest in writing.

That community aspect shouldn't be underestimated.

Writing is often a solitary hobby.

For a teenager who doesn't know anyone else at school who loves writing, suddenly spending a week surrounded by other writers can be incredibly validating.

10. Endicott College Young Writers Workshop — Massachusetts

Best for: Students entering grades 8–12

Endicott College's Young Writers Workshop is another university-based option designed specifically for teenagers.

The 2026 workshop welcomed students entering grades 8–12 for a four-day immersive writing experience.

Students developed original work and explored areas including:

• Fiction

• Poetry

• Young adult writing

• Screenwriting

• Writing and music

The program also introduced students to strategies for publishing and promoting creative work.

That makes it particularly interesting for teens who have moved beyond "I like making up stories" and have started wondering:

"Could I actually become an author someday?"

11. Write the World Virtual Writing Camps

Best for: Teens who can't travel to an in-person writing camp

Not every young writer can travel across the country for a conference.

That's where virtual programs can be fantastic.

Write the World offers online creative-writing workshops for teenagers. Its 2026 Fiction Virtual Writing Summer Camp was designed for ages 13–19.

Participants joined live interactive workshops, connected with young writers from around the world, completed writing activities independently, and received individualized feedback.

For shy writers—or families who simply don't have a writing camp nearby—a virtual program can be an excellent place to begin.

12. The Writers Box for Kids Summer Camp — Salt Lake City, Utah

Best for: Tweens and teens who want a smaller day-camp experience

Utah families have another interesting local option through The Writers Box for Kids.

Its Salt Lake City summer camp offers different groups based on grade level, including programming for 5th–7th grade writers and a separate Teen Edition.

The program emphasizes small-group instruction and offers different writing clubs so students can explore the types of writing that interest them.

The camp also incorporates visits from professional authors.

For families who want the benefits of a writing camp without sending their child to an overnight program, this kind of day camp can be a great fit.

What Should Parents Look for in a Tween or Teen Writing Conference?

Before registering, don't just look at the list of famous authors.

Look at what your child will actually do.

A strong youth writing conference or camp should provide some combination of:

• Hands-on writing time

• Instruction from published or professional writers

• Age-appropriate workshops

• Opportunities to meet other young writers

• Feedback or critique

• Different genres to explore

• A supportive environment

• Activities that make writing fun

Also pay close attention to the age range.

A conference designed for a 17-year-old preparing a novel for publication may not be the right environment for an enthusiastic 10-year-old writing their first fantasy story.

Likewise, a serious 16-year-old novelist may want something more advanced than a general creative-writing day camp.

Match the program to the writer—not simply the writer's age.

Are Writing Conferences Worth It for Kids and Teens?

For the right child, absolutely.

Obviously, a weekend conference or week at summer camp isn't going to magically transform someone into the next bestselling novelist.

But that's not necessarily the biggest benefit.

Young writers get to discover something else:

There are other people like them.

There are other kids who invent characters in their heads.

Other teenagers who stay up thinking about plot twists.

Other young writers with half-finished novels hidden on their laptops.

And there are real adults who once did exactly the same thing—and eventually became published authors.

A great youth writing conference provides instruction.

But it can also provide community, confidence, and permission to take creativity seriously.

That may be even more valuable.

So, What Is the Best Writing Conference for a Tween or Teen?

There isn't one perfect conference for every young writer.

For a large conference experience with dedicated tween and teen tracks, StoryCon in Utah is an excellent place to start. (I've taught at this conference and they bring in dozens of authors to teach classes, including many NYT bestsellers and big names in the industry. It's a massive writing conference just for tweens and teens!)

For a hands-on summer experience, consider StoryCon's Summer Writing Camps, Rice University's Creative Writing Camp, or one of the university-based programs.

For a serious high school writer, programs such as Sewanee, Interlochen, Longfellow, or the Young Arizona Writers' Workshop offer more intensive experiences.

And for families who can't travel, look for virtual teen writing camps such as those offered by Write the World.

Most importantly, find something that gets your young writer excited.

Because the kid filling notebooks with dragons, superheroes, mysteries, poems, strange planets, or stories about ordinary life today... might just be tomorrows author.

If you know of any other tween and teen writing conferences and camps, send me a message or leave a remark on this blogpost and I'll add it to the list.

Thanks,
Johan